Guard or protector for watches.



F. E. MEAD.

GUARD OR PROTECTOR FOR WATCHES. APPLICATION FILED APR.11.1905.

5 5 y'l/llllllllllllllllrzlifl 2 1 2 514 uznfoz fai z i e 1 mm as attuned PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK EDWARD MEAD, OF REPRESA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO STUART EDWARD BELL, OF'REPRESA, CALIFORNIA.

GUARD OR PROTECTOR FOR WATCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed April 11,1905. Serial No. 255,052.

To all whom, it Heap concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERIOK EDWARD MEAD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Represa, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guards or Protectors for Watches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a guard or protector for watches, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, durable. and efficient form of guard which will render it difficult or impossible for pickpockets to extract a watch from other persons pockets, and which will also prevent the watch from dropping out of a pocket when the wearer thereof stoops down or makes any unusual exertion.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of the features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of a watch provided with my improved guard or protector. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the guard or protector detached, and Fig. 3 is a section through the guard on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The guard or protector is preferably made of soft rubber and comprises a ring or annular body portion 1, provided with a series of radially-extending star points or projections 2, each of which is formed upon its upper face with an integral spur or prong 3, arranged at right angles thereto, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The points or projections 2 are of less thickness than the body of the ring 1, which latter is thus caused to project above the same and is formed with a beveled outer surface 1, which is roughened or serrated, preferably, by forming it with a series of annular corrugations 5. The opening in the ring 1 is of less diameter than the how 6 of an ordinary watch 7; but the elasticity of the rubber of which the guard or protector is made permits the same to be extended and passed downward over the bow to surround the pendant 8 of the watch, to which position it is applied for use, the guard being of such size that the projections 2 will extend radially beyond the bow in'such position as to adapt them to bend inwardly or toward the watch-body, so that when any attempt is made to extract the watch from the person of the wearer the spurs or projections will be thrown out to engage or catch into the lining of the pocket, and thus prevent the watch from being extracted or render extraction so diflicult as to call the attention of the wearer to the fact that an attempt is being made to purloin the watch. The same action will occur when the wearer of the watch stoops over or engages in any exercise which will tend to cause the watch to drop or be thrown out of his pocket.

By the peculiar construction of the parts of the guard above described a large surface is afforded for the formation of the corrugations 5, which, while permitting of the proper distension of the ring 1 to permit it to be attached to and detached from the watch-pendant, stiffens the ring to such an extent as to prevent it from being easily pulled apart or breaking when strain falls thereon. The annular formation of, the corrugations is of great advantage in this particular, as this form not only allows the ring to stretch to a maximum extent, but does not cause any unnecessary resistance. The corrugations further provide a roughened or serrated surface, which coacts with the radial projections and their spurs to hold the watch securely seated in the pocket.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A watch-guard comprising an elastic ring provided with a series of radial projections, each projection having an integral right-angularly projecting spur.

2. A watch-guard comprising an elastic ring provided with a series of radial pointed projections, each projection having an integral spur projecting at right anglestherefrom adjacent to the pointed extremity thereof.

3. A watch-guard comprising an elastic ring provided with a series of basal pointed radial projections of less thickness than the body of the ring, each projection having an integral spur extending at right angles thereto, the upper outer surface of the ring being beveled and annularly corrugated.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK EDWVARD HEAD.

Witnesses:

ARGHIBALD YELL, BRAINARD F. SMITH. 

